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The 13/2 terrorist attack against the Israeli diplomat exposes India to the possibility of a more potent and professional group, which may have already raised the capability levels of indigenous terror cells and created a threat which is both real and potent.

Ali Ahmed replies: Indian civilians and soldiers have been victims of IED attacks as part of proxy war, terror attacks and in insurgency hit areas. Such attacks result in fatalities and long-term injuries. The material damage, though sometimes considerable, pales in comparison to the human toll. Not only lives but long-term livelihoods of families are sometimes disrupted. Compensation, therefore, requires being not only as immediate relief but also to enable recouping over a longer time period. While monetary compensation is resorted to, measures such as employment to next of kin are also taken as warranted. The state governments usually take on the onus for compensation. For example, in J&K, the MHA Annual Report of 2010-11 (p. 9) informs that a one-time cash compensation of Rs. 5 lakh is provided to the next-of-kin of civilians killed in militancy-related incidents in lieu of compassionate appointment under SRO-43. This would include IED attacks. For this, Rs. 100 crore was released to the State Government from Security Related Expenditure (Relief & Rehabilitation). As informed by the State Government, an expenditure of Rs. 96.16 crore has been incurred so far. As for the soldiers who are victims of IED action, they are treated as battle casualties.

Left behind will be a quasi-theocratic Afghan state compelled to accommodate Talibani-style cultural medievalism and a Pakistani state teetering on the brink of political self-destruction and social chaos.

Although on the ground the areas of conflict are specific and do not cover the entire landmass as a map would indicate, the incoherence of the state’s response makes it appear that India is at war with itself.

Modern man is living in a violent world and under an undeniable threshold of rising societal violence. As a result, people are already preparing against various forms of violence. On the terrorist’s side, more spectacular or significantly different attacks would be necessary to receive greater attention. The need to kill people is fuelled by the desire to capture bigger headlines. This need is also a compulsion because of heightened security against traditional terrorist acts.